Proudly Made in the USA
Smithfield Foods is a U.S. company that provides more than 40,000 American jobs and partners with thousands of American farmers.
The company was founded in Smithfield, Virginia, in 1936 and was acquired in 2013 by Hong Kong-based WH Group, a publicly traded company with shareholders around the world.
Below we answer a few of the most frequently asked questions related to the acquisition and our ownership structure.
Does Smithfield now import products from China?
Smithfield has not, does not, and will not import any products from China to the United States. No Smithfield products come from animals raised, processed, or packaged in China. All our U.S. products are made in one of our nearly 50 facilities across America. These products are produced in compliance with the strict standards and regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other federal and state authorities.
Does Smithfield pay U.S. taxes?
Yes. Smithfield continues to pay U.S. local, state, and federal taxes, and heavily reinvests our profits in improvements of our U.S. facilities and employees, as well as construction and acquisitions of new U.S. facilities and capacity.
Has Smithfield reduced its workforce as a result of the acquisition?
Not a single job has left the United States since the WH Group acquisition. In fact, we have added thousands of American jobs since the 2013 acquisition.
Has the acquisition hurt the company’s sustainability efforts?
Smithfield continues to maintain an industry-leading sustainability program, including robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental, and food safety and quality programs. Furthermore, we have continued to set more ambitious sustainability goals.
How has the acquisition impacted the U.S. pork industry and the country’s economy?
Smithfield and the U.S. pork industry export products to China, benefitting American pork producers and processors. More exports to China mean more American jobs and more demand for products “Made in the USA,” and reduces the U.S. global trade deficit.
Is WH Group owned by the Chinese government?
WH Group is a publicly traded company with shareholders around the world. Anyone anywhere can purchase shares of WH Group on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code 00288. In fact, WH Group’s shareholders include many large U.S.-based financial institutions. It is not a Chinese state-owned enterprise and does not undertake commercial activities on behalf of the Chinese government.
Where is Smithfield Foods based?
We are still headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, and run by an American and U.S.-based management team.
Who decided to sell the company to WH Group?
In 2013, Smithfield’s shareholders voted overwhelmingly to approve the strategic combination with WH Group. More than 96 percent of the votes cast by investors were in favor of the transaction.